Not to re-hash this topic because I am pretty sure I was in the minority, but since I was the one that gave all the 'what if' hypotheticals - I thought I would share this story from the 12U Nationals.
In what turned out to be our (Lasers Black) elimination game against the Corona Angels, in the 6th inning with the score of 2 to 0 Angels, an Angels batter hits a 3 run homerun. I am sitting in the dugout as she rounds the bases - somewhat disappointed. As the homerun hitter jumps into the pile of players at home, I see the umpire say something to my catcher and then raise his fist signifying an out. Obviously the coach from the Angels calls time and heads towards the umpire to understand what happened. My assistant coach turns to me "if he called her out for not touching the plate - that's terrible" - to which I of course disagree and we rehash virtually this entire thread during the rest of the inning.
At the end of the inning, as I am heading out to coach third and my catcher is walking off, I asked her what happened - she says "Coach, she didn't touch home, she jumped right over it. When I saw her do it, I told the umpire and he called her out." So I walk over to the umpire smiling - he smiles back and says "I had to call her out, your catcher stood right beside me and watched to make sure she touched the plate and appealed as soon as she didn't". Let it be known, that I never taught or encouraged her to do that.
We lost the game and the play ultimately had no impact on the outcome.
But the irony of the story is it was my assistant coach's daughter - the catcher who appealed the play because she knows the rules and plays by all of them. Good for her.
